Transforming Unbelief into Amazing Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into Mark chapter 6, focusing on Jesus' return to His hometown, Nazareth. Despite His miraculous works and profound teachings, the people of Nazareth were filled with unbelief. They saw Jesus merely as the carpenter's son, failing to recognize His divine authority. This familiarity bred contempt, and their lack of faith hindered Jesus from performing many miracles there. We contrasted this with the story of the Roman centurion in Matthew and Luke, whose faith amazed Jesus. The centurion believed in Jesus' authority so deeply that he trusted Jesus could heal his servant with just a word, without even being physically present.
We explored the concept of "thamazo," the Greek word for being amazed or marveled, which Jesus experienced both in response to the unbelief in Nazareth and the faith of the centurion. This led us to discuss the attributes of amazing unbelief and amazing faith. Unbelief often stems from over-familiarity with the sacred, failing to recognize who Jesus truly is, and holding onto preconceived notions of how God should act. On the other hand, amazing faith believes in Jesus' power, runs toward Him with urgency, and speaks His promises, creating an atmosphere ripe for the miraculous.
We emphasized the importance of creating an atmosphere of faith in our lives and our church. This involves active participation in worship, recognizing the presence of God, and speaking His promises over our situations. By doing so, we open the door for the supernatural to work in our midst. We concluded with a call to action, encouraging everyone to change the atmosphere in their homes and lives by declaring God's word and promises.
### Key Takeaways
1. Familiarity Breeds Contempt: When the sacred becomes common, we shut the door to the miraculous. The people of Nazareth saw Jesus as just a carpenter, failing to recognize His divine authority. This familiarity led to unbelief, which hindered Jesus from performing many miracles. We must guard against letting our familiarity with the sacred diminish our reverence and expectation for God's work in our lives. [17:11]
2. Recognize Who is Among Us: Amazing unbelief occurs when we fail to intentionally recognize who Jesus is. In worship and daily life, we must actively acknowledge and confess Jesus' presence and authority. This recognition shifts the atmosphere around us, opening the door for the miraculous. Our verbal declarations of faith play a crucial role in creating an environment where God can move powerfully. [21:06]
3. Preconceived Notions Hinder Faith: Holding tightly to our preconceived ideas of how God should act can shut the door to the miraculous. The Jews in Nazareth expected the Messiah to come in a specific way and missed Jesus because He didn't fit their expectations. We must remain open to God's ways, trusting that His plans are higher and better than ours, even when they don't align with our expectations. [22:58]
4. Faith Believes the Report of Jesus: Amazing faith believes the reports of what Jesus can do, even without firsthand experience. The centurion believed in Jesus' power based on what he had heard, creating an atmosphere for the miraculous. The reports we choose to believe and confess shape our faith and the spiritual atmosphere around us. We must choose to believe and declare God's promises over our circumstances. [24:38]
5. Create an Atmosphere of Faith: Our actions and words contribute to the spiritual atmosphere in our homes and church. By actively participating in worship, declaring God's promises, and maintaining an attitude of expectancy, we create an environment where God can move powerfully. Each of us plays a role in building an atmosphere of faith that invites the supernatural into our lives and community. [13:48]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - Church Outreach and Impact
[02:30] - Jesus Returns to Nazareth
[03:21] - The People’s Unbelief
[04:51] - Jesus’ Response to Unbelief
[05:26] - The Concept of "Thamazo"
[06:41] - Jesus’ Omniscience and Humanity
[09:08] - God’s Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience
[10:26] - The Centurion’s Amazing Faith
[12:43] - Creating an Atmosphere of Faith
[13:48] - The Importance of Worship and Expectation
[17:11] - Familiarity Breeds Contempt
[21:06] - Recognizing Jesus Among Us
[22:58] - Preconceived Notions Hinder Faith
[24:38] - Believing the Report of Jesus
[31:54] - Running Toward Jesus
[33:31] - Speaking God’s Promises
[35:24] - Creating an Atmosphere of Faith in Your Home
[35:54] - Invitation to Respond to Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
2. Matthew 8:5-13 - The Faith of the Centurion
3. Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Exaltation
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the people in Nazareth to Jesus' teachings and miracles? How did their familiarity with Him affect their belief? ([03:21])
2. How did the Roman centurion demonstrate his faith in Jesus' authority? What was Jesus' response to his faith? ([10:59])
3. What does the Greek word "thamazo" mean, and in what contexts did Jesus experience this amazement? ([05:26])
4. According to Philippians 2:5-8, what did Jesus give up when He became human, and how does this relate to His experiences of amazement? ([09:47])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the people of Nazareth were unable to recognize Jesus' divine authority despite witnessing His teachings and miracles? ([03:21])
2. How does the centurion's understanding of authority and his faith in Jesus' word contrast with the unbelief of the people in Nazareth? ([10:59])
3. What are the implications of Jesus being amazed at both unbelief and faith? How does this duality help us understand the nature of faith and unbelief? ([05:26])
4. How does Philippians 2:5-8 help us understand the nature of Jesus' humility and His willingness to experience human limitations, including surprise and amazement? ([09:47])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you might have let familiarity with the sacred diminish your reverence and expectation for God's work in your life. How can you guard against this in the future? ([17:11])
2. In what ways can you actively recognize and confess Jesus' presence and authority in your daily life and worship? How might this shift the atmosphere around you? ([21:06])
3. Have you ever held onto preconceived notions of how God should act, and how did that affect your faith? How can you remain open to God's ways, even when they don't align with your expectations? ([22:58])
4. Think about the reports and testimonies of what Jesus can do that you have heard. How can you choose to believe and declare God's promises over your circumstances this week? ([24:38])
5. What specific actions can you take to create an atmosphere of faith in your home and church? Consider ways to actively participate in worship and declare God's promises. ([13:48])
6. Identify one area in your life where you need to run toward Jesus with urgency and faith. What steps will you take this week to seek His intervention in that situation? ([31:54])
7. How can you incorporate speaking God's promises into your daily routine? Choose a specific promise from the Bible and make a plan to declare it over your life regularly. ([33:31])
Devotional
Day 1: Familiarity Breeds Contempt
When the sacred becomes common, we shut the door to the miraculous. The people of Nazareth saw Jesus as just a carpenter, failing to recognize His divine authority. This familiarity led to unbelief, which hindered Jesus from performing many miracles. We must guard against letting our familiarity with the sacred diminish our reverence and expectation for God's work in our lives. [17:11]
Mark 6:4-5 (ESV): "And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.' And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them."
Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you have become too familiar with the sacred. How can you renew your reverence and expectation for God's work in that area today?
Day 2: Recognize Who is Among Us
Amazing unbelief occurs when we fail to intentionally recognize who Jesus is. In worship and daily life, we must actively acknowledge and confess Jesus' presence and authority. This recognition shifts the atmosphere around us, opening the door for the miraculous. Our verbal declarations of faith play a crucial role in creating an environment where God can move powerfully. [21:06]
Matthew 18:20 (ESV): "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally acknowledge and confess Jesus' presence and authority in your daily life? How can you incorporate this practice into your worship and interactions today?
Day 3: Preconceived Notions Hinder Faith
Holding tightly to our preconceived ideas of how God should act can shut the door to the miraculous. The Jews in Nazareth expected the Messiah to come in a specific way and missed Jesus because He didn't fit their expectations. We must remain open to God's ways, trusting that His plans are higher and better than ours, even when they don't align with our expectations. [22:58]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Identify a preconceived notion you have about how God should act in your life. How can you surrender this expectation and trust in God's higher and better plans today?
Day 4: Faith Believes the Report of Jesus
Amazing faith believes the reports of what Jesus can do, even without firsthand experience. The centurion believed in Jesus' power based on what he had heard, creating an atmosphere for the miraculous. The reports we choose to believe and confess shape our faith and the spiritual atmosphere around us. We must choose to believe and declare God's promises over our circumstances. [24:38]
Romans 10:17 (ESV): "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Reflection: What reports or testimonies of Jesus' power have you heard recently? How can you choose to believe and declare God's promises over your current circumstances today?
Day 5: Create an Atmosphere of Faith
Our actions and words contribute to the spiritual atmosphere in our homes and church. By actively participating in worship, declaring God's promises, and maintaining an attitude of expectancy, we create an environment where God can move powerfully. Each of us plays a role in building an atmosphere of faith that invites the supernatural into our lives and community. [13:48]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: What specific actions and words can you use to create an atmosphere of faith in your home and church? How can you encourage others to join you in this effort today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Faith is actually an expectation. Faith is an anticipation that God is going to move in my life. You've heard the word. You've studied the word. You've heard the preaching. You believe he's going to heal your marriage. You believe he's going to come through in your finances and be your provider. You believe that all your children are going to come back to Christ and the prodigals are coming home. Why? Because the book of Acts says you will be saved and your household. And as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Amazing faith believes the report of what Jesus can do. It believes the report. Our centurion man of faith had never met Jesus. There's no record that he went to any of the meetings, but yet he heard the word of what was going on. The word on the street is this guy could be the Messiah. And there's dead people being raised, just last week, Jairus' daughter came back from the dead. And lepers are being healed in public and blind eyes open and demons cast out. And Jairus believed the report of a guy that he'd never met, of a faith that he was not a part of, and it created an atmosphere for the miraculous in his life." (40 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Amazing faith runs toward Jesus, convinced that he can change the situation. There's a certain passion and intensity that manifests itself through real faith. Look at this in verse five. In the Amplified, as Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came up to him, begging him for help. The pastor Hillary talked about this heart condition last week, it's not a passive inquiry. This is a passionate, urgent, humility, desperation-wrapped request. This guy was probably running, fell at Jesus' feet and begged him. Today, whatever you're in, make a move toward Jesus." (42 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Amazing faith speaks the promises and proclaims God's ability. While the Jews in Mark 6 did not recognize, they didn't verbally affirm that the Messiah was among them, one pagan Roman soldier, centurion. He recognized the honor and the authority of Jesus and his glory. His confession came from what he saw and what he believed. Look at this in verse eight. But the officer did what? The officer said. He spoke out who he believed Jesus to be. Lord, I'm not worthy to have you come into my home. Can you read the bowl with me? Just say, Lord. Why is that so important? Because based on the confession of your faith, your spiritual reality is established." (45 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So let me just lean into you and appeal to you. Help us build an atmosphere of faith. Help us build an atmosphere of worship. It's a big deal when you lift your hand. It's a big deal when you clap your hands and shout unto God all you people. It's a big deal when you worship in spirit and truth because it shifts the atmosphere." (18 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Now, I want to talk to you about amazing unbelief and then juxtapose that with amazing faith. Jesus was amazed. He marveled. There's only two accounts of him. There's only two accounts of him having this response to a crowd, to an event, or to faith, or lack thereof. And there's one Greek word I want to share with you. Amazed or to marvel. And it's pronounced thomazo. Thomazo. Would you say that with me? Look at you learning some Greek on a Sunday. It's a good thing. It means to be surprised by, shocked and filled with wonder, to stand amazed." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we do not intentionally recognize who is among us, we shut the door to the miraculous. That's what happened in the synagogue that day. They didn't recognize. Yeah, they knew he was Jesus, Joseph and Mary's son. There was rumor that he was Messiah, but they did not verbally identify and confess who he was. You know, every week in our worship time as the band's on stage, our worship leaders, as Pastor Rich did today, will encourage you. Hey, you lift up your voice. You speak directly. You speak directly to Jesus." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we hold tightly to our preconceived ideas of how God will arrive, we shut the door to the miraculous. When you have a preconceived, oh, God's gonna move you. He's gonna move in my life like this. He's gonna provide the future spouse. It's gonna happen like, he's gonna heal or do this or that. And your prayer goes unanswered. Listen, some of the greatest prayers, or let me say greatest responses to your prayers is God saying no or not yet. He's sparing you. But when God doesn't come through like we thought or when we thought or in the way we thought, we can grow a cynical heart and shut the door to the supernatural." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So let me encourage you to do this. In worship, take a moment, begin to declare this. Jesus, you're in this place. Emmanuel, you're with my family. God, I sense your presence here and it will change the atmosphere right around you, first in your heart, but then it will begin to move beyond you and we all get caught up in the fact that there is a living God among us. Amen?" (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The reports you believe and confess are shaping the trajectory and the destiny of your life. And we're always getting reports, negative reports about the economy, about the nation, maybe about your job and its future, or about your health. You are bombarded and saturated with negative reports. So Isaiah steps up, Isaiah 35, I believe. He says, who will believe our report? The book of Numbers says the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt. God says, you're going into a promised land. And they believed it until they saw the challenge involved with it. And so they sent in these 12 spies. You know the story. 10 of them came back with the Bible, and the Bible calls an evil report. The evil report is this. We're going to die. Yep, seen the giants. You're all going to die. It's over. We cannot do this. But there were two that had a faith-filled report. Caleb and Joshua said, oh, we can certainly take this land. God told us we can take." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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